Just to be able to see this old footage again is really a thrill. Thanks!

The earth station in the newsreel is the At&T station at Andover Main. The initial link was actually to France, Pleumour Bodeau because the UK site, Cornwall, known as Goonhilly, because got their antenna polarization wrong but the French got it right.

This excellent newsreel depicts the development and launch of the communications satellite Telstar in 1962. Great footage of the night launch of Telstar atop a Thor missile. There is also some nice control room footage, including a view of the historic first TV satellite transmission (American flag).

Early 60s newsreel documenting the launching and testing of Telstar, the first communications satellite. This has great historical value, and is fun to watch as well, featuring animations of radio waves bouncing off the satellite, footage of it being built, and footage from the first satellite television broadcast. It also gives a fairly accurate prediction of such satellites encircling the earth, except for the part about it increasing international understanding.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: ****.